Turpentine gutter and securing means



June 7, 1932. c A. TOMPKINS 1,862,374

Filed Nov. 18, 1950 Patented June 7 1932 UNT S CLAUDE A. TOMPKINS, OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA TURPENTINE GUTTER AND SECURING MEANS Application filed November 18, 1930. Serial No. 496,481.

This invention relates to turpentine gutters and securing means therefor, and one object of the invention is to provide a turpentine gutter and securing means so constructed that the gutter may be firmly held in its proper position against a bleeding face of a tree but at the same time permit the gutter to be easily detached when removal thereof is necessary in order to shift its position upon the tree or it is desired to transfer it to another tree.

Another object of the invention is to so apply the gutter to the tree that the inner side edge thereof will be embedded in the tree thereby permitting it to be secured against the tree by a single nail intermediate its length without danger of the gutter tilting out of its proper position or slipping and falling from the tree.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. securing nail for a trough of such construction that it may be driven into a tree with the outer wall or side portion of the trough resting upon the nail and a tongue formed integral with the nail overlapping the outer side edge of the trough thereby causing the trough to be firmly secured against the tree and well supported.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view showing troughs secured against a bleeding face of a tree in accordance with this invention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the nail.

The gutters shown in Figure 1 and indicated by the numeral 1 are formed of non rust sheet metal. Each gutter consists of a strip of metal bent longitudinally to form walls 2 which are fiat throughout the length of the gutter, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and in cross section diverge upwardly. The usual method of applying a gutter to the bleeding face 3 of a tree 4: is to place the inner wall of the gutter against the bleeding face of the tree and drive nails through this wall into the tree until their heads have contacting engagement with the gutter. This has been found unsatisfactory as the nails are hard to extract when it is desired to remove a gutter and very often the inner wall of the gutter will be torn when attempting to extract the According to this invention,

grooves 5 are cut in the tree transversely across the bleeding face thereof and the gutters then set in place with the side edges of their inner walls engaged in the grooves. This causes the side edges of their inner walls to be embedded in the tree so that sap flowing downwardly upon the bleeding face will pass I directly into the gutters.

After a gutter has been applied to a tree with the side edge of its inner wall engaged in a groove 5, a nail 6 is driven into the tree below the groove in such spaced relation thereto and at such an incline that the outer side wall of the gutter will rest upon the nail, as shown in Figure 2. Therefore, the nail will constitute a good support for the gutter. The nail is formed as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and by referring to these figures it Will be seen that the nail has a head 7 at its outer end to be struck by a hammer when driving the nail into the tree. of the head are reduced in width and bent to form tapered tongues 8 extending diagonally from the head at opposite sides of the nail in spaced relation thereto. Either one of these tongues may overlap the side edge of the outer wall of the gutter, as shown clearly in Figures 1 and 2, and firmly hold the gutter in engagement with the nail. By this arrangement a single nail driven into the tree intermediate the length of the gutter will provide a good support for the gutter as the outer side wall rests upon the nail for its full width and the side edge of the inner wall of the gutter will be prevented from accidentally dropping out of the groove formed in the tree. When, however, it is desired to remove the gutter in order to shift its position upon a tree or transfer it to another tree, the head of the nail may be easily engaged by an extracting implement and the nail withdrawn from the tree. The gutter will thus be released and may be detached and after being shifted to a new position or applied to another tree again secured. On account of the arrangement of its head, this nail can be Opposite side portions driven into position to support the gutter or can be readily withdrawn when desired, without damaging either the nail or the gutter. The nail can be withdrawn either before or after the gutter is removed and both can be used repeatedly.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a sap producing tree cut to form a bleeding face, a gutter extending transversely of the bleeding face of the tree and being open at its ends, the gutter being substantially V-shaped in cross section and having flat side walls diverging upward- 1y, each wall being unobstructed throughout its length and width and having a smooth side edge, the side edge of the inner wall having edge contact with the tree, and a securing nail driven into the tree transversely of the gutter intermediate the length thereof and having flat contacting engagement with the under face of the outer wall of the gutter for the full Width thereof, the outer end of the nail being formed with a head having 0pposed portions tapered toward their ends and bent to form tapered tongues diverging from opposite sides of the nail, one tongue overlapping the side edge portion of the outer wall of the gutter and firmly holding the gutter upon the nail.

2. A nail for securing a sap gutter to a tree comprising an elongated shank having a head at one end, the head having opposed portions reduced in width to form tapered end portions and the said end portions being bent to form tapered tongues diverging from opposite sides of the shank whereby a selected tongue may be engaged over an outer side edge of a gutter and secure the gutter to a tree with the gutter resting upon the shank of the nail.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CLAUDE A. TOMPKINS. [n 5.] 

